Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-05-05
THE SCULPTOR'S CHRIST.
sTORY'S STATUE AN ORIGINAL
AND BEAUTIFUL CONCEPTION.

Marvellous Dream of Years Ago Which
Furnished the Sculptor His Theme.
The Divine Master in g Modern
Land.
Story's last statue. Christ, is an original
and beautiful conception. The dress is that
Of an Arab; the cetoneth or under garment,
rich and full, bound round the waist with q
soft sash, and the neil, an upper one a man.
tie, which was the seamless garment we read
that our Lord wore. On the head is the kiffyeh
or scarf, bound around by a fllet, which
forms a soft, visorlike framing above the
brow: the ends of this kiffyeh fall over tine
shoulders and cover the long hair which you
see under the shadow of its folds; this is the
napkin, as the English translation Of the Bible
calls it. which was taken off, folded and laid
beside our Lord in the grave. This costume
is most effective, for it has the rich, deep
folds of the Oriental quadrangular mantle,
and is probably exactly like the dress our
Saviour wore.
The person is that of a young man, tall,
thin, but not emaciated. The right hand is
extended as if summoning you to approach.
The left hand rests gently on the drapery of
the breast. They are long, slender refined,
oriental hands, modelled with feeling and del
icacy. The face is singularly tender and
noble; handsome, with fine brow and
beautiful features. The eyes have a wonder
ful outlook, spiritual, and as if they saw far
beyond mortal gaze. The expression OF the
face is united to that of the outstretched,
pleading, earnest hands The words, "Come
unto me ye who are weary and heavy laden
and We shall find rest" seem to be uttered by
fI,.I linz f,d vat %ba into Of tla
face is Gs if be had little hope that humanity
would listen TO the call.
"FoR HAVE SEEN HIM"
sat some time the other afternoon looking
at this impressive statue. save Maria"
sounded, and the late afternoon shadows
gathered into the studio. The half lights
gave the figure of the young Messiah start
ling Likeness to life. spoke, thinking aloud:
HAnd so he may have looked"
at ought to look like him, for have seen
him." said the sculptor quietly.
l started, and turned to know il Ihad heard
the words or had dreamed them.
"Yes," repeated Story calmly, lighting a
fresh cigarette; @yes, and will tell you how
it was 1t happened when was young, about
90. was going in the hourly as the coach
was called that ran in those days every hour
between Boston and Cambridge, for it was
long before the time of the omnibus and
horse car. OfcouTse, mean dreamed was
in the coach. 1t was, as all dreams are, at once
strange and prosaic. Soon after got out
side the coach, and we had started, I sud
denly became aware that Christ was seated
outside with the driver Ny first i'm
pulse was to touch him; so 1 leaned
out and rested my hand on his garments,
when l felt sure it was Christi When
the coach reached the half way house at Cam
bridgeport every one got out, and Christ also.
l did not, but sat looking upon him as he
walked to and fro. There were ordinary,
common people about. and the natural prosaic
actions Of such place going on. l was
aware that no one but myself saw that
strange being In oriental garment, moving
with stately steps backward and forward in
front of the busy little crowd which assemblies
at half way house when a stage arrives
But that did not seem strange to me, nor was
surprised at his dress, so unlike anything /
had ever looked on, for at that time / was not
familiar with the Arab costume: simply
thought, There is Christi and every sense in
my body was alive.
"Then came the hustle Of starting and then
the whole dream ended-the vision disap-
pearedl For years and years that appear
ance has haunted me, and over and again
have tried to give form and shape to that
face and person, which saw as plainly as I
see you now"
No wonder, with the vivid memory of that
marvellous vision, cur celebrated sculptor has
been able to give US such a noble semblance
of the Divine Master.-Rome Cor Inter